Lake Creek Campmeeting
History of the Lake Creek Church

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History of the Lake Creek Church
Following the first campmeeting in 1843 the Lake Creek Methodist Episcopal Church was organized. It met in area homes at first but a log cabin for the preacher was built that winter and in the spring of 1844, Rev. Sebastian Barth celebrated his first Sunday services on WhitSunday. He states "The whole house was enlightened by the presence of God and twenty souls were converted.
The first log church was constructed that year on a half acre site just South of the creek. Within one year the Lake Creek church had a membership of 84 plus 16 preparatory members. In 1851 the church lot was expanded to an acre and a half.
Above: A large gathering at the dedication of the new building in 1883.
In 1853 the church building was enlarged but no details are known. A cemetary was also begun during these early years and exists at that location today. A second Lake Creek Church building was built in 1856 on land about a mile NorthWest of the first church and near the old Ringen school. Thirty acres were purchased from the Ringen's for the church and campmeeting grounds but the campmeeting was never moved there. The new church was built and also a parsonage.
When the railroad was built through Smithton the population on the North side of the creek began to grow rapidly and members bagan to look for a more suitable location for the church and campmeeting grounds North of the creek. On May 23, 1883 it was decided to purchase 20 acres of land from Emma Jackson and the present church building was built that year at the new site. The old church and the 30 acres were sold and a sum of $485 was realized from the sale.
The campmeeting continued for several years at the old location until 1891 when the cabins were torn apart and rebuilt along with new cabins at the present site.
In 1919 after much discussion an addition to the church was built. The entire building was jacked up and with pick and shovel a new basement was built. Also added at that time was the room called the "German Room" and the vestibule and Bell Tower. A photo of that construction is on the right.
Recent remodeling includes the addition of air-conditioning, an elevator, and a new entryway.
Pastors of the Lake Creek Church:

For a more complete biography on any pastor please request it via e-mail box above.
1839-1840 -- Francis Walkenhorst-(Lay Pastor)
1843-1845 -- Sebastian Barth
1844-1845 -- Heinrich Nuelsen
1845-1847 -- Conrad Eisenmeyer
1845-1895 -- Herman Manken (Lay Preacher)
1847-1848 -- William Schreck
1848-1849 -- Heinrich C. Dreher
1849-1850 -- Jacob Fiesel
1850-1851 -- Wilhelm Neidermeier
1851-1852 -- John Hausam, Sr.
1852-1853 -- Jacob Fiesel
1853-1855 -- Peter Hellwig
1855-1857 -- Heinrich Lahrmann
1857-1859 -- Jacob Maegly
1859-1861 -- Phillip Hehner
1861-1863 -- Civil War -- No Pastor
1863-1864 -- Andreas Holzbeierlein
1864-1866 -- Charles Stuckemann
1866-1869 -- George Schatz
1869-1871 -- Heinrich Hankemeyer
1871-1873 -- John Phillip Miller
1873-1875 -- Leonhard Gottfried Hilmer
1875-1877 -- William Fotsch
1877-1880 -- John C. Meyer
1880-1883 -- John Hausam, Jr.
1883-1886 -- Dan Walter
1886-1888 -- J. H. Dreyer
1888-1891 -- Herman Koepsel
1891-1896 -- Henry H. Hackmann
1896-1900 -- F. H. Wipperman
1900-1901 -- Henry Edward Rompel
1901-1905 -- Ernst Crepin
1905-1909 -- Gottlieb J. Jaiser
1909-1913 -- Gustav F. Meyer
1913-1917 -- Walter Wagner
1917-1921 -- Oscar F. Kettelkamp
1921-1923 -- A. B. Schowengerdt
1923-1927 -- Ernst Crepin
1927-1929 -- Christian Ferdinand Mayer
1929-1936 -- Max Opp
1936-1939 -- Ray Massey Brown
1939-1949 -- Edward Lewis Rathert
1949-1951 -- Hershel Benton Fly
1951-1952 -- Reuben E. Olin
1952-1955 -- Jacob Coleson Paschal
1955-1957 -- Russell Estes
1957-1970 -- Linus Eaker
1970-1973 -- Jerry Moon
1973-1978 -- James McQueen
1978-1985 -- Dwight Bingham
1985-1990 -- Richard A. Seaton
1990-1994 -- Brenda West
1994-2000 -- Robert C. Ewens
2000-2002 -- Bill Siebert
2002-2006 -- Ray Varnado

Sebastian Barth -- First pastor assigned to Lake Creek

Pastor H. Dreher -- 1848
In front of log cabin parsonage.
Website maintained by Richard Seaton